"So the finest warship in Morgain skies, and the stubborn old goat who built her, are both sitting in my corner." Trafalgar let the weight of the story move through him and out the far side, and did what he always did with things too big to hold. He put a dry edge on it. "Strategically, that's an asset most lords would trade a limb for. And I had it the whole time without knowing."
Alfred snorted. "There he is. I bare my soul to the boy and he starts tallying his assets."
"You'd think less of me if I didn't." Trafalgar's mouth curved, but the humor had a floor under it this time, and he held the old man's gaze a beat longer than he usually allowed. "For what it's worth. Thank you. And I don't mean for the ship."
